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Eco Friendly

Kurulu Bay is a unique private sanctuary in Sri Lanka

Posted on November 11, 2024

Kurulu Bay is a private sanctuary built alongside Koggala Lake in the South of Sri Lanka

Kurulu Bay (Sinhalese for “bird island”) is a private sanctuary built alongside Koggala Lake, one of the island’s largest expanses of water, just slightly in-land, located in the South of Sri Lanka. The lush surroundings of this tropical retreat are filled with loud and lively creatures that hoot and call, and you would forgive yourself for thinking you’d arrived in Sri Lanka’s jungle rather than a water-front resort. Yet the expanse of the calm lake, and the incredible sunsets she offers, ensure Kurulu Bay is as serene and tranquil a destination as you had hoped for.

For my baby moon, switching off was of paramount importance for me. Removing the temptation of busy street markets and the surfing tourists we normally encounter in Sri Lanka, Kurulu Bay made it easy for us to really relax. With only 14 suites and cottages, it felt nicely quiet. Commissioned to Shanghai based, award-winning architects A00, each suite allows for a sense of intimacy with nature.

We enjoyed private yoga sessions set on the terrace of the private residence, with a backdrop of the lake, and even more private spa treatments, with only 1 room for each of us available. The peace and quiet never felt empty, never felt boring. With two swimming pools, and a kitchen that boasts the most delicious sea-to-table homegrown recipes, it’s easy to see why Kurulu Bay’s whole resort is mostly booked out for private health and wellness retreats, with guests visiting from across the world. A long-weekend here (without our children) was honestly the perfect way to reconnect with each other, nature and ourselves.

Birkenstock’s 250 year focus on sustainable materials

Posted on November 4, 2024

Birkenstock shoe, sole, manufacturing process, environmentally friendly, sustainable materials

Celebrating 250 years of this iconic shoe, the focus for Birkenstock is becoming more and more about the environment and manufacturing their creations sustainably.

Dating back to 1774, every Birkenstock footbed is made of natural cork, natural latex, jute and suede, which is used as the top layer.

BIRKENSTOCK AND SUSTAINABILITY

The brand uses the highest-quality leather, working with textile materials, such as high-quality wool felt, made from pure merino wool. For those customers looking for animal-free products, there is our proprietary synthetic material Birko-Flor®.

RESPONSIBILITY IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN

A high proportion of the natural materials that Birkenstock uses are from sustainable sources: cork, natural latex, jute, leather and wool felt are among their most important materials.

One of the main raw materials used is cork – a natural and sustainable product that boasts high elasticity, outstanding cushioning, and excellent heat and sound insulation. It is comprised of dead thin-walled cells that have been filled with air. The cork layer is reproduced and can therefore be harvested again and again without harming the tree.

A single tree can provide 100 to 200 kilograms of cork during its life. To ensure that the cork is hygienically clean, the bark that has been removed is cooked thoroughly in tanks. It is then cut into strips that will be used to punch the bottle corks.Natural cork oak forests only exist in the western Mediterranean basin. The majority of the cork processed by Birkenstock comes from southern Portugal, the world’s largest raw cork-exporting region. Natural and planted cork oak forests in Portugal cover a total of some 750,000 hectares – about 8% of the total surface area of the country.

Then there’s jute, which provides additional stabilization of the cork and latex core in the original Birkenstock footbed. In addition, the plant fibers improve the moisture-regulating properties of the footbed. Jute is a renewable resource as well.

Natural latex serves as the natural binding agent in the production of the footbed. Like cork, natural latex is also a renewable resource. Natural latex is obtained from the resin of rubber trees.

Eco Friendly fashion Sustainable

Breitling is leading the way for luxury watches as a sustainability champion

Posted on June 17, 2024

Breitling is leading the way for luxury watches by putting sustainable manufacturing and materials at the forefront of their DNA. Putting a precedence on traceability with lab-grown diamonds and artisanal small-scale operations, ensures that this 140 year old brand is truly thinking of the future.

These changes start by looking to the source of their precious materials. From artisanal and small-scale gold, lab-grown diamonds, upcycled packaging, and sustainable straps, by 2025, all Breitling’s products will be made with this level of transparency.

Their Origins-label watches are supplied by artisanal and small-scale gold and lab-grown diamonds which are fully traceable to producers who have been individually selected for their responsibility towards their employees, their local communities and the environment. The entire supply chain is documented, verified, and shared back to consumers.

The brand is also rolling out traceablity via blockchain-backed provenance records for their watches, starting with the Super Chronomat Origins and engaging their suppliers to increase their own sustainability performances.

Bold steps for Breitling, but their focus on a green future also includes making a groundbreaking shift to flat-fold watch boxes made of upcycled PET material, achieving carbon neutrality and eliminating plastic waste across all their operations.

Eco Friendly Sustainable

Why bamboo is the world’s most sustainable toilet paper!

Posted on June 14, 2024

Bamboo is the material we all need in our lives… We don’t think about where our toilet paper comes from do we? Did you know that 15% of all deforestation is caused by tissue manufacturing? Every single day, 27,000 trees are cut down to make toilet paper.

Introducing Bambuyu, who offer a sustainable & tree-free alternative – bamboo, the ideal solution as it’s a raw material that is sustainable and renewable whilst also soft & absorbent. Bamboo is actually a grass (not a tree), so it does not require planting after harvesting and can grow back naturally. It also has natural antibacterial properties, so it can be grown without the use of harsh chemicals and pesticides.

As bamboo is the world’s fastest-growing plant and grows x30 faster than trees, it makes it one of the most environmentally friendly materials you can choose. A grove of bamboo produces 35% more oxygen than a tree of a similar size which helps in reducing our carbon footprint too!